Top Leaders Throw Weight Behind New Security Plan in Tripoli

President Michel Suleiman hailed on Monday as successful a security plan implemented by the Lebanese Army in the northern city of Tripoli as Prime Minister Najib Miqati hoped the situation there would remain under control following a week of deadly gunbatttles.

“The implementation of the security plan drawn by security officials began yesterday (Sunday) and it seems that it has so far given a positive effect,” Suleiman told a cabinet session held at Baabda palace.

Labor Minister Salim Jreissati quoted Suleiman as calling for the support of the Army in its mission, a day after top security and defense officials were given the green light during a meeting of the Higher Defense Council to restore order in Tripoli.

A week of clashes between the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen left scores of people dead and injured. But the Army deployed heavily in the city starting Sunday night, carrying out patrols and setting up checkpoints.

It also removed all barricades erected by the fighters in the hotspots.

The prime minister hailed the positive results of the HDC's meeting and hoped the latest calm in Tripoli would hold.

Also Monday and during a meeting with his Finnish counterpart, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn warned that the Army will be on the lookout for any attempt to tamper with security.

“Political leaders should meet the Army's efforts by rejecting inciting and sectarian rhetoric, and working on steering Lebanon clear of any tension that could lead to dangerous repercussions,” Ghosn said.

Tripoli has been the scene of frequent sectarian clashes between the Alawite sect of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Sunnis. This time, the gunbattles broke out over reports that Lebanese Salafists were killed after entering Syria to fight alongside the rebel Free Syrian Army.

Mowaten, the lebanese government cannot really control the weapons of al qaeda or the FSA, can it? As for the Future and LF, I understand their wanting to have weapons after HA launched their dogs SSNP and Amal and other thugs on them in 2007. They have to defend themselves. I dont like future because of the 50B $ debt, and I dont like LF for their being vassals to future. But HA's weapons and attitude is the source of 1- our lack of security, and 2- the contempt of everyone for state authority, and 3- the rearming of everyone, 4- the redlines against disarming palestinians. Insofar as weapons are concerned, DO NOT TRY TO DILUTE RESPONSIBILITY: HA IS RESPONSIBLE.

The Army should not have to wait for political cover ... When violence breaks out they should be allowed to use all force necessary to end the violence.

It is clear in this case that delaying the needed response only allowed the situation to escalate. The government and the army need to be seen as efficient and effective as this will help stop violence in the first place.

the army should have taken over jabal Mohsen's weapons long time ago. the others would not have had to get armed.
anyway, the army should take out all weapons from all sides now. will they do it? no.
they do not dare touch jabal Mohsen weapons.

mckini I would agree with your statement if it applies to Hezb areas as well. Would you agree to that? Hezb decides when and if they allow army or ISF to deploy or investigate or search for criminals in their areas every time an explosion or crime take place.

The army is there to turn off the fire. But efforts should be done to prevent fires to start. The armed cheikhs full of vengence and hatred inciting our youth to war should be put in jails. What is being said in mosqs should be monitored by moderate moslems. All these youth are being brainwashed to carry weapons by these so called men of religion carrying weapons.

Lebanon just sucks in general guys. I mean yeah we can criticize Hezbollah's militia activity but who will defend us against Israel if they attack? Saying Israel only attacks because of Hezbollah is wrong, history has proven that. If the Lebanese army is capable of defending Lebanon then we won't need Hezbollah, but they aren't.....they can barely control two neighborhoods.....

As for the article, hopefully now the Sunnis of Tripoli can give Najib Miqati the credit he deserves. Hariri has done good things for Tripoli, but no where near as much as Najib Miqati, allah yehmihu.

Your argument defending HA's weapons is linear and one dimensional. If you take the money HA steals yearly from the port and other sources, (around 1B a year), you can buy a good amount of weapons for the lebanese army. And that would be good deterrance against israel. And against our other ennemies, internal and external. So spare me the "resistance" argument bullshit. HA became a MILICIA hated by more than half the lebanese. It is probably hated more than israel.

Everyone in Lebanon steals. Everyone in Lebanon is corrupt. March 14 and March 8. Hezbollah is just the best at playing Lebanese politics. If it was your group in Hezbollah's position you would be happy. Want hezbollah to change? Change this broke system that empowers them in the first place, get rid of the sectarianism that makes Lebanon a free-for-all. Then you will see how easy it is to be rid of Hezbollah.

No I do not wish being my party being in HA's position. I dont wish to have to grab the country by force, I dont like stealing the gvt money, I dont like to have to cover Syria's crimes in Lebanon, I dont like reporting to a medieval mollah in Iran, and I dont envy having hatred (against Israel or others) dictate each and every move I make.
So no I dont wish my party is in HA's position. I moved from admiring HA in the past to being disgusted with it.

That's too much weight, guys. If those in Tripoli won't get killed by bombs and bullets, the weights of these filled with crap buffoons will definitely have a worse effect. So, buffoons, get off, you useless punks.

Good, all the parties, minority majority , mouwelet li baddak yeh, they shoudl all concentrate their efforts on sollving the crisis in Tripoli. We are in the 21 Century, the game has to change, resolve tripoli, and everything will fall in it's place or one thing at a time....